tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697069502806403520.post2270037308758519985..comments2023-11-22T00:27:30.275-08:00Comments on Japanese Jiu Jitsu: A Journey: Free Martial Arts...Journeymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00146093025259375890noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697069502806403520.post-39598341784014058242015-11-22T23:58:37.250-08:002015-11-22T23:58:37.250-08:00Dear Journeyman,
I love this post, it is so vulner...Dear Journeyman,<br />I love this post, it is so vulnerable and open. Here are my thoughts for what it is worth . . .<br />- No you are not “overthinking”, or being over dramatic by presenting this as a case of handing over “the keys to the kingdom”. I actually think that’s a very good metaphor in this case, given how much you have to offer this man, and the world in general. Your system is like your own baby and you need to be absolutely certain and comfortable before you entrust it to anyone else’s care.<br />- So I don’t think any of us can advise you whether to go for it with him at present. You just don’t know him that well, as you say, so how can you trust him with your precious material? So in my view your options are not so much about whether to hand over all or part of your material (etc). It’s more about deciding whether he has any potential, and if he does, then deciding to invest some more in getting to know him. BEFORE you commit to this relationship, or give anything to him. And if you decide that he is not going to be the right person, ether now or after you get to know him, it’s fine for you to just walk away.<br />- I don’t know much about this kind of scenario myself, but just Googled “How to choose a business partner” and found LOADS of good articles – here are some: 10 questions to ask before committing to a business partner; Is Your Co-Founder 'the One'? 7 Ways to Tell; Evaluating and Selecting a Strategic Partner. (Sorry the links haven't copied over into this reply).<br />- But I think the deepest, strongest question in your article is the one you don’t actually include in your list at the end which is: is it ok for you to charge money for something as pure, noble and beautiful as the martial arts? It feels like you are drawn to transforming your hard work into income, but are unsure whether this is actually ok in the first place, and you are asking us either to validate this action, or tell you if we disapprove (because money would somehow taint and soil our art). <br />- Again this is just my opinion, but I would say that you absolutely have the right to be paid for your hard work. People draw salaries for their day-to-day jobs all the time and no one thinks anything of it. So why should your work be any less valuable just because you’re doing it independently and not for an employer – and out of love? Your blog is beautiful, and clearly the result of so much work and knowledge, and you have every right to capitalise on this; you would really not be doing anything wrong. <br />- Of course some people make money from the martial arts in a wrong way, such as opening up a poor quality “belt factory” and teaching crap - or abusing their students etc - but from what you have said, that kind of activity is absolutely nothing to do with where you want to go. <br />- Your post also made me think of the Buddhist concept of “Right Livelihood”. People have to make a living, and it’s proper that you should do this in an ethical way, and make the world a better place in the process. And helping people to find personal power and stay safe is an awesome way to serve humanity.<br />- On a stronger note, I also thought of the Parable of the Talents (bible) when I read your post. The first two servants use the money they are given well, and double it. The third servant in the story does nothing with the talent he is given – he just buries it in the ground to keep it safe. And the first two servants are rewarded - but the third man is severely punished. This sounds like a harsh story, but I believe its message is that we have a moral responsibility to make the most of what we have been given in life?<br /><br />Sorry this reply is so long! and hope it doesn’t sound too “prescriptive” :-) it's really only my own thoughts and feelings on your story. Wishing you all the very best with this – are you going to keep us updated via your blog . . . ?<br /><br />Best wishes Kai<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849196809410481658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697069502806403520.post-2169408178731494392015-10-18T19:25:51.968-07:002015-10-18T19:25:51.968-07:00Unknown,
You've just summed it all up in a lo...Unknown,<br /><br />You've just summed it all up in a logical and well thought out manner. Thank you for the feedback. I believe you're absolutely correct. And getting things in writing is very important and up until now, I hadn't given it as much thought as I should have.<br /><br />Thanks again.Journeymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146093025259375890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697069502806403520.post-87692504271251792372015-10-16T13:41:33.004-07:002015-10-16T13:41:33.004-07:00If you are helping with the design of a program th...If you are helping with the design of a program that he will charge money for, you should be compensated. If he is teaching your curriculum, you should have oversight or be involved as a teacher in every self-defense class where he is using your curriculum. If he gets to the point where he can teach the class himself, and you are comfortable with the achieved results, then you will be comfortable with stepping away from the project. Get any agreement in writing. Its unfortunate that we have to worry about legal BS, but it is a fact of life. If he hurts someone and says he says that he was just doing what you told him to do, that could be a problem. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697069502806403520.post-84909623628863765352015-09-22T20:42:37.384-07:002015-09-22T20:42:37.384-07:00Hi Rick,
I think you're right. I'm not s...Hi Rick,<br /><br />I think you're right. I'm not so vain as to think other people couldn't do a good job with my material, but without oversight and quality control, the training could become anything. And that "anything" would always be associated to me.<br /><br />Thanks for the feedback. Journeymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146093025259375890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697069502806403520.post-16889268288044394542015-09-22T06:27:20.905-07:002015-09-22T06:27:20.905-07:00Whatever this instructor does with the material yo...Whatever this instructor does with the material you've provided; whatever happens to his students after he teaches them your material, it will reflect on you.Rick Matzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09699550034693340637noreply@blogger.com